Brickmaking-machine.



J. R. DAWKINS & D.v PARKS. BRICKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3, 1910. 1,024, 1 22.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

QQ a Ln J. R. DAWKINS & D. PARKS. BRIGKMAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.3, 1910. 1,024, 1 22., Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. R. DAWKINS & D. PARKS.

BRIGKMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.3, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

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' JDHN IB'. DAWKINS AND DENNIS PARKS, OF ST., LOUIS, MISSOURI; SAIDPARKS ASSIGNOB-TO SAID .'DWXINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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s l Appunti@ med January a, 1910. serial No. 536,101.

useful Improvements in Brickmaking-Ma-- chines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in brickmakin machines ofthe type in which clay, suitably prepared, is forced ina continuous column from a container having a rectangular outlet, bymeans of an auger.

The invention comprises tures, viz., the application ofelectricity tofacilitate the free passage of-the column of clay from the augermachine, `its subsequent indentation and severance into sections ofbrick` length, and the impressing in each brick of a given mark or word;and novel mechanisms whereby the various objects described are attained.Chief among these may be mentioned a novel construction of cuttingdevice, which is operated by` the moving column of clay, said cuttingdevice comprising a number of blades mounted on an endless carrier,`which blades, in operation, penetrate the column of clay at right anglesto its line of movement, and, as stated, sever portions therefrom of thelength of a brick. In this operation lthe clay-is prevented fromsticking to the knives by the application of electricity, as previouslymentioned, and hence itis that we are enabled to `use blades, whichinsure a straight, smooth cut, as distinguished from the employment ofwi res, which are now universally employed for this operation.

As regards the broad idea of the application of electricity to movableobjects to prevent clay from stickingto them, the present invention isan application of the generic' idea, in this regard, described andclaimed in Reissue Letters-Patent No. 12,715, granted November 5th,1907, to John R. Dawkins, one of the applicants herein. The applicationof this dlscovery to the purposes of al brick making machine, however,presents certain specific and important advantages, due to the nature ofthe work of such machine, whichhas heretofore imposed certain twosalient feav limitations upon its improvement. Among these importantadvantages maybe mentioned the fact thaty in the case of a brick makingmachine of the auger type, to which the present invention relates, theclay can be utilized in a more moist Vcondition thanI would be possiblewithoutthe employment of. electricity; and such use of moist clayenables us to make a brick, the body of which is more homogeneous in itsstructure, by reason of theparticles adhering and co- -hering to a fargreater degree than would be possible with the clay in a driercondition.

lVVithout/the employment of electricity, such moist clay as we areenabled to use would adhere to 'the walls of the-die or mouth of theauger machine, and to other parts of the machine with which it, wouldcome in contact in the course of being shaped into bricks. vAnother ofthe advantages referred to is that we are enabledv to make brickswithout the necessity of passing them through a repress after thecutting operation. This advantage we secure by the combined operationsof electricity and the novel form of cutter referred to, the formerinsuring a .perfectly smooth surface vto the four sides of the column ofclay, and the cutters, also aided by the electrical action,

operating to sever each brick from the col-` umn of clay by means of astraight, smooth cut, thus avoiding jagged and irregular surfaces,so-tha t the brick, when severed from the moving column cf clay, and, ifdesired, impressed `with a suitable name or nzlirk, may atI once beconveyed to the drying 'The use of blades on an endless carrierpossesses the further advantage that we are enabled thereby to run thecutting device directly from the column of clay, by impact and contactof the clay with the broad surfaces aiforded by said blades, thusdispensing with intermediate gearing between the belt moved by the clayand the cutting device. This arrangement insures that the cutting deviceshall act in unison with the belt carrying the clay, and produces anabsolute uniform cut irrespective of the rate of paed, or of variat-ionsin the speed, of the e t. v

In coperation with the cutting mechanism we have devised an automaticcreaser, which operates to indent the clay on opposite sides in the lineof the cut ofthe knives,

so that the brick will have beveled side edges. This creasing of thecolumn'of clay prior Ito the cutting thereof also tends to prevent theclay at the end edges of the bricks from being torn. oli' by the descentof Ithe knives through the column of clay.

In addition to thebroad features charac-l terizing our machine, thereare certain features of novelty residing in details of construction andin the combination and cooperation of the parts described, which will bemore fully understood from the detailed description of the inventionfollowing.

In the accompanying drawingsillustrating the invention, Figure 1 is aview in side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating the mainfeatures of our` invention; Fig. 1EL is a vertical sectional view of themouth-or die of an auger machine, a portion of the receiving table beingshown in elevation, the figure representing, in effect, acontinuation ofthe right yhand-side of Fig. 1; Fig.

. 2 is a detached view illustrating the mark-` atelyjcoperatingtherewith in front elevation; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectionalview taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a cross sectionalview taken -on the line 7-7 of Fig. ,6, and viewed inthe direction ofthe arrow.

Referring now tothe drawings, 1 indicates a table for receiving andsupporting the column of clay as it issues from the auger machine, and 2a table for receiving and delivering the bricks as they are respectivelycut from the continuous column of clay on table 1. For the purpose ofbriefness in description we will herein refer to table 1 as thereceiving table and table 2 as the delivery table.

The receivin table comprises suitable frame work an standards, whichneed not be particularly described, and its upper sur` face is formed bya belt 3 which passes over pulleys 4, 5,.located, respectively, atopposite ends of the table, and is supported in a horizontal plane by aseries of rollers 6, loosely mounted on shafts 7, which in turn, arejournaled at their ends in the sides of the table. The pulleys 4, 5 aremounted on shafts 8, 9, which are journaled in the suitable bearings atthe sides of the table. The pulley 4 is fast on its shaft 8, and thelatter projects beyond the table at one side thereof. Mounted on lsuchprojecting end of this shaft is a relatively large sprocket wheel 10.Theupper surface of the delivery table is likewise formed by an endlessbelt 11, supported to run in a horizontal plane` on rollers 12,whoseshafts are journaled in the sides of said table, the -belt beingsupported at opposite endsthereofby means of pul-V leys, only one ofwhich, indicated by 13, is shown. The said pulley 13 is fast on a shaft14 whichis journaled in opposite sides of the delivery table vandprojects beyondone side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on theprojecting end of the shaft 14 is a sprocket wheel 15, of relativelysmall diameter as compared with the sprocket wheel 10. The sprocketwheels-10 and 15 are fast on their respective shafts and are connectedby means of a sprocket chain 16. By the provision of the mechanismdescribed the belt 1,1 will be moved by and in unison with the movementof the belt 3, but at a higher rate of speed, owing to the difference insize of the sprocket wheels 10 and 15.A Mounted on opposite sides of thereceiving table, vand projecting upward therefrom, are supports 17, onand between which is mounted an inclined run-way 18, .the highest end oflsaid run-way being toward the auger machine. Mounted to rollsmooth'lyand easily around said .run-way are a series of pairs of rollers 19,each pair of rollers being loosely mounted on opposite ends of a shaft20. The various shafts 20 are connected in pairs by two links 21, eachof said links having at one end a projection 22 inclined'slightly fromthe vertical. Extending between and secured to the projections 22 ofeach pair of links is a blade 23. The incline of these blades 23 is suchthat in their movement along the under side of the run-way said bladesassume a pov sition exactly at right angles to the plane of movement ofthe belt 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The links 21 loosely receive therespective shafts 20 at their opposite ends, and as the rollers 19 areloosely mounted on these shafts, the frictional resistance interposed tothe rotation of the rollers 19 is very little, and the endless cuttingmember as a whole can be caused to freel travel about the run-way, withthe expen iture of but a slight amount of power. Referring to Fig.1**,the numeral 24 indicates the die of the auger machine, a portion ofwhich is indicated at 25, the said die being insulated from cont-actwith the body of the auger machine by insulation 26. As the column `ofclay 27 passes from the die 24 inthe well known manner it is supportedand held in a horizont-al position by a roller 28, or other character ofsupport, mounted at the end of the receiving table, and passes on to thebelt 3. The column of clay will frictionally engage the belt and causethe latter to move with it. As this movement continues the end of thecolumn of clay will strike against one or the other of the knives 23 andforce it along in the same direction, thus rotating the endless cutter.v As will be seen, the under side of the cutter moves necessarily in thesame direction. as the' column of clay, and owing to the incline of therun-way, the blades 23 will successively be forced into and graduallythrough the clay, the cutting being completed when the blade comes incontact with the belt 3, at which point the rollers of that particularblade will move upward by reason of the rollers passing around the lowerend of the run-way.

29 indicates a support which is mounted between the pulleys 4 and 13,that is to say, between the ends of the receiving and delivery tables,for supporting the brick 30 in its passage from the belt 3 to thebelt 1. As shown, the support 29 is in the shape of a slightly curvedplate which is adjustably mounted at opposite ends on the sides of thetable as indicated in Fig. 1 at 31. Wel do not wish, however, to belimited to this pars ticular form of support. In order to make a cleancut of the bricks at theouter edges, and to have the end edges of thebrick slightly beveled, we provide an automatic creaser which will nowbe described.

Extending between and through the sides.

of the run-way 18, and suit-ably journaled therein, is a shaft 32, oneach projecting end of which is a crank arm 33, in the outer end of eachof which is a slot 34, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. A rod 35has a connection at its upper en d with eachof the crank-arms 33 bymeans of a suitable pin or bolt passed through the upper end of said rodand engaging in the slot 34.

'36 indicates a pair of creaser-arms located respectively on oppositesides of the table and pivotally mounted thereon, as indicated at 37.Each of thesecreaser-arms is bent at right angles to itself at each end,as shown, the upper bent end 37a of each arm eXtending part way acrossthe receiving table, and having its forward edge beveled, as indi catedat38. The lower bent ends 3'8a pro.- ject beneath the table and beyondthe point ofv pivotal connection 37. Each of these lower bent portions38a has secured toits inner end one end of a spiral spring 39, the otherof which is secured on aba'r 40, or other fixed part of the table, atthe bottom thereof. Each of the rods 35 is'pivotally connected to thecorresponding creaser-arrn' 36, as indicated at 41, at a point somedistance removed from the pivotal connection 37, and on the sideopposite to that to which the spiral spring 39 is connected. Securedcentrally of the shaft 32 by means of a setscrew 42 is a dog 43. Looselymounted at one end on the shaft 32 adjacent to said dog is an arm 44,the lower end of which pro# jects downward below the plane of the path ifollowed by the shafts 20 of the cutter as they pass along the underside of the runway. Pivotally mounted at its lower end on the arm 44, asindicated at 45, is a pawl 46 which is provided on one side with ashoulder 47 adapted to engage the end of the dog 43. Above this shoulder47 the pawl 46 is provided with a curved edge 48 which normally bearsagainst a pin 49 adjustably mounted in one side of the run-way. This pin49 is mounted in thel end of a plate 50 (see Fig. l) which is providedwith 4a slot 51, and is held in position by a suitable nut and bolt 52.An opening 53 is provided in the side of the run-way whereby theattendant can, by striking the arm 50 or the pin 49 therein, vary theposition of the latter with respect to the pawl 46. Secured at its upperend to the under side of the pawl 46 is a leaf-spring 54, the lower freeend of which bears against a pin 55 carried by the arm 44. Mountedcentrally of each of the shafts 2() is a roller 56, and as the endlesscutter travels around the run-way these rollers in turn come in contactwith the under side of the arm 44 and raise it. This raises the pawl 46and by the engagement of the shoulder 47 thereof with the dog 43 causesthe shaft 32 to be rocked, which throws the outer ends of the crank-arm33, and consequently the rods 35, downward. This operation causes theupper ends of the creaser-arms to be moved outward against the.resistance of the springs V39. As the pawl 46 is moved up* ward it isgradually moved also backward by reason of the contact of its curvededge 48 with the pin 49 and this continues until its shoulder 47 ismoved out of contact with the dog 43, thus releasing said dog andallowing the springs 39 to pull the lower bent ends of the creasenarmsdownward. This operates to throw the upper bent ends inward withsuliicient force to cause the bev eled ends 38 thereof to strike thesides of lthe column of clay 27 and form a vertical identation therein.As the roller 56 passes from under the arm 44 the latter falls, the

leaf-spring 54 pressing the pawl 46 constantly against the pin 49 and inposition to haveits shoulder 47 engage the end of the dog 43 when thenext roller 56 strikes the lower end of the arm 44 and raises the same.

Mounted at eachside of the receiving table is a leaf-spring 57, the freeends of which are engaged and pressed` inward by the creaser-arms 36 astheir upperends are suddenly thrown inward by the action of the spring39. These springs 57 act as a cushion for the said creasers, and also toimmediately force the creasers outward after their ends have indented'the sides of the. column of clay. The operation, therefore, is that ofa quick, sharp blow of the ends of-the creasers on the sides of thecolumn of clay, the onward movement of the said column not being therebyimpeded and the indentation being clearlyv and evenly impressed. Bymanipulating the pin 49 `through the opening 53 the distance the dog 43will be raised before the shoulder of the pawl 46 passes out ofengagement therewith to allow the creasers 36 to be thrown inward by thesprings 39, is so regulated that the indentation in the sides of thel:column of clay will be made to exactly coincide with the plane ofmovement of the cutters or knives 23 as they force their way through thecolumn of cla Lgs each brick 30 is severed from the moving column ofclay the movement of the cutter 23 at its rear end forces said brickover the support 29 until its forward end is well on tothe rapidlymoving belt 11. Mounted on opposite sides of the delivery `table 2 areposts 58, on each of which is mou-nt d a bracket 59 affording bearingsfor opposiie ends of a horizontal shaft 60. Loosely mounted on the shaft60 is a marking roller 61, having, preferably raised, suitable marks orletters 61a thereon to be impressed into the top of the brick to servevas a trade-mark or trade-name for the brick.

The word shown in the drawing is Electric. The roller 61 is in contacton one side with a collar 62 secured on the shaft 60, and at its otherside with a tension spring 63 coiled around the shaft 60 and held tobear with greater or less force against the roller l61 by means of anadjustable collar 64 mounted on the shaft 60. Projecting from theperiphery of thev roller 61 is an arm 65 which is adapted to be engagedby the forward end of each brick as it is carried under the roller bythe belt 11, to cause said roller to revolve on its shaft until thefirst of the raised letters 61a`indent themselves' in the brick when theroller 61 will be continued to be revolved by engagement of the brickwith said letters. The diameter of the roller 61 is such that as thebrick passes from under theroller the arm 65 will have been turned intoposition to be engaged by the forward end of the succeeding brick, whenthe preceding operation will be repeated. The spring 63 bears withsufficient force upon the roller to prevent its movement after the brickhas passed from under it, so that the arm 65 will always be left in theproper position for engagement by fthe succeeding brick.

We will now describe the electrical connections and arrangementswhereby, utilizing the principle of the patent to Dawkins beforementioned, we prevent the adherence` of the clay to the various metallicparts of the machinery with which it. comes in contact.

Referring to Fig. 4, 66 indicates angleiron plates secured on theopposite sides of the receiving table, about mid-way of the length ofthe cutting device, on the side of each of which plates facing inwardthere are secured a number of iiexible strips of metal 67 having freeends extending inward and positioned to bear lightly against therespective sides `of the column of clay as it passes under the cuttingmechanism.

Referring to Fig. 3, blocks 68 are mount-- ed on opposite sides of thedelivery table to which blocks are secured spring-arms 69 having curvedends projecting under the shaft 60 and adapted to bear lightly againstthe opposite sides of the brick as it passes under the markin roller 61.marking roller is insulated from the machine by means of a sleeve ofinsulating material 70 which encircles the posts 58 and extends betweensaid posts and the hubs 71 of the brackets 59. Y

Referring now to Fig. 1, 72 indicates, diagrammatically, an electricgenerator, from the negative side of vwhich a wire 73 leads to, and iselectrically connected with, the metallic frame or run-way 18 of thecutting device.

nected with, the pivot or spindle 37 of one of t-he creaser-arms 36. Awire 74a connects the two spindles 37. -A branch wire 75 also leads fromthe negative 'side of the generator, and is electrically connected toone of the posts 58 supporting the marking wheel 61. A further branchwire 76, shown detached in Fig. la. leads from the negative side of thegenerator, and is electrically connected to the die y24 of the augermachine. From the positive vside of the generator a wire 77,leads to,and is electrically connected with, the'metal roller 28, this beingeected, as shown, by connecting wire 77 to an arm 78 which is in contactwith the bearing of said metallic roller28. A branch wire 79 connectsthe positive of the generator with the plates 66 carrying the brushes.67. Another #wire 80 connects the positive of the generator with thesupport 29,' and a wire 81 leads from the positive, of the generator andis connected to the two brushes 69. By means of these various electricalconnections thefollowing yresults are secured: (a.) The column of clay,in a more moist condition than has heretofore been found practicable,passes freely out from the die 24 Without adhering to the die, andhaving its sides and edges perfectly smooth and regular. (b.) Thevarious cutters 23 are successively passed through'the column of ciay tosever the same into brick lengths, making an even, smooth cut, and areas readily withdrawn from the clay, being entirely free from adheringmaterial. (c.)

The said A branch wire 74 leads from the wire 73 to, and is electricallycon-v maletas the negative side of a generator with the metallic objectand the positive side of the generator with the clay, in whichcircumstances the object may be brought into intimate contact with thelclay, or forced into or through the same hering thereto.

We claim:

1. In a brick making machine, in combi- Without thel clay adnation witha support fora moving column' of clay, means for cutting the clay' whileerator, said' cuttin in mction into brick lengths, a source ofelectricity, and means for placing and maintaining the column of clayand said cutting mechanism in the circuit of the said source ofelectricity. v Y

2. In a brick-making machine, in combination with a support for a movlngcolumn of clay, means for cutting the clay while in motion into bricklengths, an electric generator, said cutting means being connected withlone side of said'gener'ator, and a conductor connected with the otherside of said generator and adapted to be engaged by the moving column ofclay.

3. In a brick-making machine2 in combination with a support for a movingcolumn of clay, means for cutting the `clay while in motion intobricklengths, an electric gener# ator, l said cutting means being connectedwith the negativeside of said generator, and a conductor connected withthe positive side gaged by the moving column of. clay.

4. ln a brickmaking machine, in combination with a support for a movmgcolumn of clay, means for cutting the clay while -in motion into bricklengths, an electric genmeans being connected with the negative side ofsaid generator, and

' a conductor mounted on said support and connected with the positiveside of said generator, and adapted to be engaged by the moving columnof clay. p

5. In a brick-making machine, in combinationf'with an endless carrieradapted to receive' andbemoved by a moving column of clay, cuttingmechanism coperatmg with said carrier for severing. the column of clayinto brick lengths, an electric generator, and means for connecting oneside of said generator with the moving column of clay, and the otherside with said cutting mechanismu 6. Ina brick-making machine, incombination with a support for a moving column of clay, cuttingmechanism mounted above said support and comprising a series ot `bladesarranged and adapted to cut through the column of clay at predeterminedpoints at right angles to the line of movement of the clay, an electricgenerator, and means for connecting one side of said-generator with theVmoving column` of clay and the other side of said generator with saidblades.

7. In a brick-making machine, in combination with the die of an augermachine, a source of electricity, and means for electrically connectingsaid die and the clay issuing therefrom with said source.

8. In a brick-making machine, in combination with the die of an augermachine, an

electric generator, means for connecting one s1de of sald generator withsaid die, kand means for connecting the other side of said generatorwith the clayv issuing from said die.

9. In a brick-making machine, in combination with the die of an augermachine, an endless carrier for receiving a column of clay issuing fromsaid die, a support for the clay between said carrier and the mouth ofsaid die, an electric enerator, and means `for connecting one si e ofsaid generator with said die, and the other side of said generator withthe clay through ,said sup'- ort. p 10. lIn a brick-making machine, incombination with the die of an auger` machine, a support adapted-toreceive a column of c lay forced through said die, cutting mechanismembodying a series of blades adapted to travel in a path to cause themto successively cut through the plane traversed by the column of clay,an elect-ric generator, means :for electrically connecting one side ofsaid generator with said clay adjacent to said die and said blades,respectively, said generator havin its other side electrically connectedto sai die and to said blades. 11. In a brick-making machine, incombination with means Afor severing a moving column of clay into bricklengths,`an endless carrier for receiving the severed bricks, a

marking wheel mounted for rotation above said carrier and adapted to beengaged by, and in rotating to impress its marks upon the bricks passingthereunder, an electric generator, contact devices adapted to en age thebrick as it passes under said mar ing wheel, said contact-devices beingelectricallyconnected with one side of the generator,

and said marking wheel being electrically connected with the other sideof the generator.

12. In a brick-makin machine, in combi- V nation with asupport or amoving column of clay, cutting mechanism for severing the column intobrick lengths, means for 1ndenting the clay on opposite sides at pointsset our hands in presence of two subscribing coincident With thesubsequent and succes- Witnesses.

sive lines of severance, a conductor adapted JOHN R. DAWKIN S. to beengaged by the moving column of e1ay,' DENNIS PARKS.

5 said conductor and said indenting. means Witnesses:

being connected with a source of electricity. BRUCE S. ELLIOTT,

In testimony whereof We have hereunto STELLA HILL.

